by an impartial
witness see Cieza de Leon, ii. p. 78.]

By this same title your Majesty may also, without scruple, order the
conquest of those islands of the archipelago of "Nombre de Jesus,"
vulgarly but incorrectly called the Solomon Isles, of which I gave
notice and personally discovered in the year 1567; although it was for
the General Alvaro de Mendana; and many others which are in the same
South Sea[21]. I offer myself to your Majesty to discover and settle
these islands, which will make known and facilitate all the commercial
navigation, with the favour of God, by shorter routes. I offer much,
well do I see it, but I trust in almighty God with whose favour, I
believe I can do what I say in your royal service. The talent which God
has given me leads me to aspire to the accomplishment of these
achievements, and does not demand of me a strict account, and I believe
that I shall comply with what will be required, for never did I so wish
to achieve anything. Your Majesty sees and does not lose what other
kings desire and hold by good fortune. This makes me speak so freely of
my desire to die in your service in which I have laboured since my
childhood, and under what circumstances others may say.

[Note 21: See my introduction to the _Voyages of Sarmiento_, pp.
xiii--xvii.]

Believing that, in writing this present history, I have not done a less
but a greater service than all the rest, I obeyed your Viceroy who made
me undertake it. Your Majesty will read it many times because, besides
that the reading of it is pleasant, your Majesty will take a great
interest in the matters of conscience and of administration of which it
treats. I call this the Second Part, because it is to be preceded by the
geographical description of all these lands, which will form the First
Part. This will result in great clearness for the comprehension of the
establishment of governments, bishopricks, new settlements, and of
discoveries, and will obviate the inconveniences formerly caused by the
want of such knowledge. Although the First Part ought to precede this
one in time, it is not sent to your Majesty because it is not finished,
a great part of it being derived from information collected during the
general visitation. Suffice that it will be best in quality, though not
in time. After this Second Part will be sent a Third Part on the times
of the evangel. All this I have to finish by order of the Viceroy Don
Francisco de Toledo. May your